Stanley Cup Final
Detroit Red Wings (2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (4)
- Mike Babcock made few, if any, adjustments for Game 5, writes Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe. Dan Bylsma tells readers what Babcock does that makes him so successful. If the Wings do win the Cup, Marian Hossa’s move to the Motor City will be justified. Pavel Datysuk’s return to the Wings lineup has made this an even fight, writes Mitch Albom. Wings GM Ken Holland was never worried about Chris Osgood. Drew Sharp tells us that there is no such thing as momentum in this series. The Red Wings’ discipline is something to behold. Is Larry Murphy hoping for Detroit or Pittsburgh?
- The Penguins are motivated by the fact that they don’t want to see Detroit skate around the Mellon Arena again with Lord Stanley’s Cup. Bill Guerin, knowing this may be his last chance at a Cup, doesn’t want the season to end on Tuesday. If people think the Penguins have lost confidence in Marc-Andre Fleury, they are wrong. Joe Starkey wonders if Marc-Andre Fleury can be the reason the Penguins comeback in this series? Dan Bylsma doesn’t want this series to mirror the series he lost to New Jersey as a player in 2003.
Teams that are not in the playoffs
- So far in these playoffs, television rating are up in the United States and down in Canada, writes Chris Zelkovich.
- In some great news, Brent Burns is back working out for the Wild and has been symptom-free for a month after suffering a bad concussion late in the season.
- Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News says goaltending is always the story in Philadelphia.
- Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette figures Jacques Martin will lead the Habs no farther than the second round of the playoffs, then eventually be fired for not taking them to the next level.
The Coyotes situation
- Don’t be surprised if Jim Balsillie wins this case, writes Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star.
- Here are some of the arguments from both sides.
- Gary Loewen of the Toronto Sun wonders if Bettman will be at Game 6 tomorrow or the court room?
- Both sides are going back and forth at each other with the case soon to be decided, writes Paul Waldie of the Globe & Mail.
- Apparently Balsillie’s camp is relying largely on the argument that this case is very similar to the one that saw the Seattle Pilots baseball team move to Milwaukee.
- Stephen Brunt tells readers to not take the alternate bids for the Coyotes, that would see the team stay in Phoenix, at face value.
- Anyone interested in purchasing the team, should realize just how much money its lost.
- Some think Judge Redfield Baum doesn’t want to decide this case, and would obviously much prefer these two sides come to an agreement on their own.
AHL Calder Cup Final
- A too many men on the ice penalty proved costly for the Manitoba Moose on Sunday, writes Tim Campbell. Down 3-1 in the series, the next game is win or you’re out, says Mike Keane.
